“Best” is a word thrown around quite freely nowadays. Often times, it refers more closely to popularity than quality. But here we are, with a complete year-by-year breakdown of the “best” movies since 2000… according to critics.
Whether you choose to agree or disagree with them is another matter entirely (an audience score has been included for comparison). And given how these critics have leads us astray lately with acclaimed dumpster fires like Star Wars: The Last Jedi, I wouldn’t blame you for being skeptical. In fact, a few of these selections are rather questionable (can we please just get off Boyhood’s dick? It’s pretty much all gimmick…)
Anyways, check ’em out.
2000: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Critic score: 93/100
Audience score: 8.1/10
2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Critic score: 92/100
Audience score: 9.1/10
2002: Spirited Away
Critic score: 96/100
Audience score: 9/10
2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Critic score: 94/100
Audience score: 9.1/10
2004: Sideways
Critic score: 94/100
Audience score: 7/10
2005: The Best of Youth
Critic score: 89/100
Audience score: 8.8/10
2006: Pan’s Labyrinth
Critic score: 98/100
Audience score: 8.7/10
2007: Ratatouille
Critic score: 96/100
Audience score: 8.6/10
2008: 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days
Critic score: 97/100
Audience score: 8/10
2009: The Hurt Locker
Critic score: 94/100
Audience score: 7.3/10
2010: The Social Network
Critic score: 95/100
Audience score: 8.3/10
2011: A Separation
Critic score: 95/100
Audience score: 8.9/10
2012: Zero Dark Thirty
Critic score: 95/100
Audience score: 6.8/10
2013: 12 Years a Slave
Critic score: 96/100
Audience score: 8/10
2014: Boyhood
Critic score: 100/100
Audience score: 7.7/10
2015: Carol
Critic score: 95/100
Audience score: 8/10
2016: Moonlight
Critic score: 99/100
Audience score: 7.2/10
2017: Call Me By Your Name
Critic score: 95/100
Audience score: 9.1/10
Related: A24: The indie company behind hits like Ex Machina, Moonlight, and Hereditary.
